Jamini launching

Ziaul Karim (left), accompanied by Kaiser Haq and Syed Manzoorul Islam, shows the first issue of Jamini.

Executive Editor of Jamini Ziaul Karim says that the quarterly will aim at spreading art and culture of our country all over the world. 'It will also help us learn what is going on in the fields at international level', Zia says. With a view to this, Jamini invites writing from anyone who is interested no matter wherever he or she lives. The journal will be available at all reputed museums and universities of the world. Jamini's editorial board includes Fakrul Alam, Kaiser Haq and Syed Manzoorul Islam.

Edited by Luva Nahid Choudhury, Jamini depicts in its first issue the indigenous and folk arts of Bangladesh and its influence on the mainstream art practice. Niaz Zaman has written on the heritage of the Nakshikantha (embroidered quilt), Syed Jamil Ahsan looks into the practice of theatre among the indigenous folks, Lubna Marium writes on the Manipuri dance, eminent art-critic Syed Manzoorul Islam focuses on the rickshaw-paintings. Editor of Journal of Commonwealth Literature John Thieme contributes a write-up on the relationship between art of the pre-Colonial and post-Colonial eras. Another art-critic Kaiser Haq writes on the different art shows and exhibitions held in London in the past nine months. Eminent painter Abdus Shakur has done the cover illustration of the first issue; an elaborate interview of the artist inside is an addition to the interest of the readers.

Regarding the name 'Jamini', Professor Syed Manzoorul Islam informs that they wanted to name it with a Bangla word, but 'couldn't come up with any that hadn't already been registered'. The name, however, suits the purpose and mood of the journal as the word 'Jamini' meaning 'the night' in Bangla 'readily associates with the idea of creativity as the night time is calm and meditative', says Kaiser Haq. 'Moreover the name is quite easy to pronounce for the foreign people', Manzoorul humorously says.

The next issue of Jamini to be brought out in coming November has 'City Life and Art' as its subject. Internationally acclaimed writers like Amit Chowdhuey, Vikram Sheth, Monika Ali, Amiri Baraka and Kamila Shamsi will write on their own city life in Kolkata, Delhi, Brick Lane, New York and Karachi.

Published from Ice Media Ltd. by Abul Khair of the Bengal Foundation, Jamini will have its ceremonial launching on August 17 at the Winter Garden of Hotel Sheraton. Litterateur Amit Chowdhury, artist Mohammad Kibria and Professor Anisuzzaman will attend the ceremony. Bengal Foundation, as an institution for practising and promoting art of the country, has no doubt executed a difficult but necessary job by publishing such an international class magazine. Jamini will surely convey the cultural inspiration and heritage of our country to the foreign people.